Dive Inside the TV With Persona 4 The Animation: Collection 1

Last summer I discussed the issue of reverse importation, focussing specifically on the case of Persona 4.  When situations like that happen, they can often redirect focus from the content itself.  So let’s talk about the Sentai Filmworks release of the first volume of the Persona 4 anime and whether or not it’s worth your time – and your money.

Copyright Atlus/Index, Aniplex, and Sentai Filmworks.

The plot of Persona 4 follows close to its video game source material – transfer student Yu Narukami finds his new life in rural Inaba is far from boring when he and his classmates gain the ability to travel to an alternate universe inside the TV.  There, with the help of a strange creature named Teddie, they must use manifestations of their deepest selves known as Persona to fight Shadows and solve a serial murder case sweeping the once quiet town.

For those who haven’t played the game and feel a little lost, don’t worry – the series does an adequate job explaining the new world and its mechanics.  At points, it even makes light of the mechanics or the very fact that it’s based on a game (evident in the series’ commercial eyecatch, which displays the protagonist’s ever-increasing personality statistics).  For fans of the game, this will likely be an amusing bonus, but its effect on newcomers may be hit or miss.

The story itself moves at a brisk pace, giving just enough time to the action scenes and the characters’ own struggles to overcome their personal demons.  The mystery at the center of the story is interesting enough, but the characters of Persona 4 are its strongest point.  The game Persona 3 had an arguably more intense plot than Persona 4, but Persona 4′s cast arguably blended better.  The anime does a good job adapting what made this cast particularly charming.  The most interesting change is one that probably couldn’t be helped – the silent, nameable protagonist from the game is now Yu Narukami and has been given a moderate, yet  distinct personality.

The dub is fairly well-done, reuniting many voice actors from the original game.  The returning voice cast is given a chance to expand their characterizations this time around.  Johnny Yong Bosch does especially well as Yu Narukami, who didn’t have much in the way of voice work in the game, but is presented as a cool-headed, quietly sarcastic teenage boy in the anime.  For veterans of the game, the replaced voice actors may take a little getting used to.  Erin Fitzgerald quickly settles in and gives a bit of attitude and edge to the character of Chie.  Sam Riegel as Teddie may take some getting used to, but it isn’t for lack of trying and he too settles in to the new role by the end of the set (with a particularly amusing performance in episode 11!)

While absent from the Blu-Ray, the Japanese voice track still appears on the DVD sets.  This Japanese dub is fairly typical but solid, with big name seiyuu like Daisuke Namikawa, Yui Horie, Kappei Yamaguchi, Rie Kugimiya, and Romi Paku among the main cast.  The biggest problem with the Japanese dub may simply be the fact that many Western fans who played the English game first may not be used to the Japanese voices, but it’s a concern easily overcome.  The DVD sets also contain Japanese episode commentary.

So is the first set of the Persona 4 anime worth buying?  If so, should you go with DVD or Blu-Ray?  If you’re a fan of the game, the series is absolutely a must-buy!  While the Blu-Rays look nice, fans will have to decide on their own whether they value the dual languages or the nicer viewing experience more.  For me, the DVDs (which run a little more expensive, ostensibly due to the added dub) were worth it.

For newcomers, Persona 4 provides a solid viewing experience.  While the action may play out a little “monster-of-the-week” in this first set, it’s played out with interesting characters who continue to grow as the series progresses.  Newcomers won’t feel lost amongst a sea of terminology or story points left out from the transition.  I highly recommend this series, but if you’re on the fence, check out an episode or two on Hulu (or grab one off of iTunes if you prefer an English dub) and see for yourself.

Persona 4: The Animation Collection 1 is available now.  You can also find episodes on iTunes dubbed.

Madoka Magica: One Year Later

It’s been almost a year since Aniplex of America released the first volume of Puella Magi Madoka Magica.  Let’s take this opportunity to look at the franchise – giving those who haven’t seen it still some reasons why they should and those who have a chance to reflect back on a revolutionary series.

Aniplex’s 2012 DVD Cover

Madoka Magica is as fascinating for its production details as it is for its content.  The series was an anime first, rather than being adapted from a manga, light novel, or video game.  I find that this often leads to more interesting animation techniques, as the studio is less worried about things like properly adapting and matching the scene from a manga.  The series also boasts an all-star crew – Yuki Kajiura (.hack//SIGN, Noir) and her band Kalafina (Black Butler, Garden of Sinners) handle much of the series’ music and craft a hauntingly fitting soundtrack.  The opening by newer pop duo ClariS is a bubbly pop tune with lyrics that are more likely to clue viewers into the show’s true nature.  Writer Gen Urobuchi (of Nitroplus and the Fate/Zero novels) conducts the sobering tale of magical girls while Akiyuki Shinbo (Nanoha, Bakemonogatari, Nisemonogatari) orchestrates stunning and at times surreal visuals.

However, these behind-the-scenes may not mean much to most viewers.  Fortunately, the series provides more than enough to keep anime fans of multiple genres interested.   From the first episode, when we are introduced to cheerful and friendly Madoka Kaname and her friends, the series emits the tense sensation that things are not as they seem.  Madoka’s life changes when a new student named Akemi Homura transfers into her class – a girl whom Madoka had seen fighting a strange monster amidst a demolished city in her dreams the night before.  Along with Homura, another figure from Madoka’s dream makes an appearance – the tiny animal who had encouraged Madoka to join Homura and fight.  Only this time, he’s the target of Homura’s assault.

The series turns the concept of magical girls on its head several times and does so with an interesting mix of cutesy anime visuals and surreal art styles for the labyrinths in which the magical girls must fight witches.  If you haven’t checked out the series yet, the subtitled episodes are on Hulu.  While the Aniplex DVDs/Blu-Rays are expensive, the dub is well-done (with many new VAs delivering particularly good performances) and the visual quality is worth owning a physical copy.  The Limited Editions in particular are very nice – the first one, for example, contains a soundtrack, a DVD and Blu-Ray version of the episodes, a double-sided poster, postcards of the ending illustrations, a booklet detailing the series’ development and containing the 4-panel comics, and a Kyubey decal.  The Limited Edition can usually be found for around 74 dollars, but that still may be a bit much for many for 4 episodes, so you may wish to check out a few episodes on Hulu and/or Crunchyroll before deciding to buy.

So what impact did Madoka have?  The first volume seems to have sold well in Japan, according to ANN. Two films have been released across the globe.  And Aniplex’s work to push the series at conventions has not gone unnoticed (they brought the director to Otakon in 2011 and had a large display complete with a “Make A Contract” wish poster with Kyubey on it.  In 2012, Gen Urobuchi and several members of the cast visited Otakon).  But the anime world isn’t suddenly bursting with new magical girl shows or shows looking to deconstruct a genre. Perhaps this is one of those one shot deals – something that can’t exactly be replicated.

Without spoiling too much, I found the show endearing.  Most of the characters were likable (and those that weren’t were written to be that way, so they had their intended effect).  Watching these characters struggle with their situations was that much more involving because you come to care about them.  The change in art style for the witches’ labyrinths was an interesting and effective choice – giving you the sense of vertigo the girls probably would have felt.  Ultimately, the plot had some interesting twists (many which may be ruined for some by the show’s popularity throughout the ‘net) and the ending was bittersweet, yet satisfying.  It definitely isn’t what you expect from a magical girls show, but I think the series sets the tone for that subversion right up front.

So what do you think?  If you haven’t finished the series, what’s your impression so far?  If you have, what did you think?  What impact, if any, do you think Madoka Magica has had and/or will have?  If you discuss spoilers, please make the first line in your comment “SPOILER ALERT” for those who may not have finished the series.

Angel Beats! writes a check that the plot can’t cash.

OK, cliched post titles aside, I’m trying something new – rather than trying to do all-around reviews, I’ll be picking out certain aspects of what I review that really jumped out at me as something needing further discussion.  We’ll see how this works.. and if, after reading this post, you disagree (or agree) with me, please feel free to discuss it.  I’m open to opinions and other interpretations on this one, because I really wanted to like it.

As expected, that means these posts will be filled with more spoilers, but I’ll try to hold them until after the “Read More” section.

So, about this co-production between Key/Visual Arts, P.A.Works, Aniplex, and ASCII Media Works: Angel Beats!

Copyright 2010 Key/PA Works/ASCII Media Works/Sentai Filmworks/Aniplex

I tried to keep my expectations in check for Angel Beats!  The Clannad anime – based on Key’s game of the same name – was pretty good.  I thought the central relationship was well-developed and there was enough going.  I didn’t care for Kanon and I thought Air had an interesting premise that was left unsupported by its cast.

It’s like crime drama meets cyberpunk meets anime!

(backdating this a bit – I ran out before publishing it on the original date)

Copyright Production I.G. 2002

So this’ll be the first of two posts about series I used to watch on Adult Swim, but never finished until recently, when Netflix was kind enough to help me fix that problem! And I’m really glad I went back and watched both.

The first series I enjoyed back when I first started watching on Adult Swim in…2005-2006…ish? It wasn’t one of those series that kept me glued to the screen or had me singing its praises in the university dining hall the morning after like Fullmetal Alchemist or Paranoia Agent did. But it was a nice, even-keeled pleasant watching experience. The animation and music were great. The voice acting and dialogue weren’t bad and the story was pretty decent and interesting enough.

But for whatever reason, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex (and 2nd GIG) didn’t hold my attention enough to the point where I wasn’t above using it for background noise. Some nights I would watch it attentively, others I just kept it on while working on homework or surfing the net. (Yeah, I’m a night owl. I concentrate best late at night and so AS was often background noise in college.)

So when it popped up on Netflix this summer (with an August 1, 2011 expiration date that turned out not to be true), I decided to go ahead and watch both seasons over the course of a few weeks. I absolutely loved it. As I said before, the animation is fantastic (the first season’s CG opening alone is worth watching every episode!) and the music had me so transfixed that I ended up importing two of the soundtracks.

The story definitely requires your full attention while watching and was a lot more interesting the second time around. I like the way the series moves between episodes that are heavy in the over-arching plot and episodes that are “Stand Alone” or one-shot episodes. It really did make me feel like I was watching a crime drama, a genre of TV show that happens to be a guilty pleasure.

I also liked that the characters were reasonably well-developed adult characters (something you don’t see often in anime, especially as protagonists) and that they worked reasonably well as a team, though I would have liked to have seen more interaction between the Major and characters like Saito.

I thought the idea of a future relying so heavily on cybernetics was reasonably explored, even if there could have been more done with it. On top of that, the ending of season 2 felt extremely rushed and there were a few pacing problems here and there in both seasons. Oh well, maybe it’s all the more reason for a Season 3?

I enjoyed watching this series, and it’s definitely in my top ten favorite anime, but the biggest strike against Ghost in the Shell: SAC reaching a wider audience may just be its medium. Don’t get me wrong, I loved this show’s animation, but many of the people who may watch this series for its plot elements and themes will probably dismiss it because it’s an anime. And even with some of the higher tech and crazier battles, why couldn’t this be a live action? I’ve found that to be the biggest barrier to getting others into this series.

I’m interested in hearing others’ thoughts. Did you like this series? Why or why not? And what would Ghost in the Shell (in either TV series or its movie form) have to offer live-action? (I think there is a live-action film rumored to be in development…) Sound off in the comments!